Thursday, June 04, 2020

The
argument: the proposal by Prime Plattsburgh LCC to renovate the
Durkee Street parking lot doesn't fit the character of downtown
Plattsburgh. It's an unneeded renovation that will cost taxpayers
and also doesn't replace all of the parking lost by the construction.
Citizens opposed to the project want good, not bad, development.

The
opposing view: Mayor Colin Read and some city councilors regard the
project as a good use of DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative)
grant money, the future upscale apartment complex drawing more people
downtown.

Today
at noon the PCC – Plattsburgh Citizens Commission – held a press
event on the front steps of City Hall. Downtown businessman and
attorney Frank Zappala explained that a legal complaint had been
filed, challenging the Prime project on the basis the city has no
right to approve such construction on waterfront property. The Durkee Street parking lot
sits next to the Saranac River.

Attorney Frank Zapalla

Frank
added he didn't know how long the response would take since the
courts were just opening up after the coronavirus pandemic had shut
down the system. In the meantime, he continued, the complaint meant
that all work related to the Prime Project would be stopped.

While
covering the event I heard two people talking behind me. Even though
I was at the required six foot social distance I could plainly hear
what was said.

One
speaker was city councilor Mike Kelly, a big proponent of the Prime
proposal. Apparently he was having a bad day. Mike – his tone
evincing disgust – asked the other person if he agreed with the PCC
stance. The other person said he was there just to listen to the
viewpoint of the Stop Prime group.

Mike
continued to express his displeasure, asking what PCC proposed to
replace the Prime project. Well, Mike, how about the original
proposal that preceded the creation of the present bloated behemoth? Mike also commented that only relatively few people were against the
project while PCC members held a banner that almost spanned the entire width of the front steps, 500 signatures of the 2000 plus
people who opposed the project.

The
councilor used two words to describe all of the PCC members but since
this is a family blog I won't quote him.

Other
attendees have stated he called them “idiots.” One person
replied that Mike was an idiot since he wanted to have citizens pay
most of Prime's taxes, a
reference to the PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) agreement with
Prime Plattsburgh LLC.

People
have complained that the city doesn't listen to their concerns
regarding the Prime project. If the city councilor's attitude is
typical it's no wonder why PCC members gathered in front of City Hall
to carry on their opposition.

Sunday, May 31, 2020

As the
leader of the chant continued from her spot on the City Hall front
steps people driving by honked their horns, quick repeated taps to
show agreement. One driver slowed down and yelled at the rally
group: “Fuck cops!”

While
riots and looting have erupted in cities across the US this rally was
loud but peaceful

On May
25th
in Minneapolis, Minnesota a white cop kept pressing his knee on a
black man pinned down on the pavement, an action that resulted in the
death of George Floyd. During the protests that followed peaceful
demonstrators were overshadowed by violent mobs. Property trashed
and set on fire including police cars. All thanks to a thug wearing
a policeman's uniform ignoring the pleas of a man who said he was
dying. The other cops on the scene did nothing to intervene while
citizens with smartphones recorded the needless death.

Due to
the reckless disregard by a few cops some people regard all police
officers as bad. Two rally signs expressed the belief that there is
no need for any cops, a POV not necessarily embraced by other
demonstrators. OK, abolish all police officers but what will replace
them to keep law and order?

Friday, April 17, 2020

Why?
Because Kinney Drugs refuses to give me refund due to the COVID-19
crisis.

The
store manager didn't explain the connection between the coronavirus
and the item I purchased. It's not like I was returning an used
piece of medical equipment like a mask or a rectal thermometer. I
didn't know bathroom scales were the prime target of COVID-19,
attracting the deadly virus and then keeping it alive for ages. Does
this mean my scale has been be buried deep in concrete for 100 years
until the virus is finally vanquished?

The
manager pointed to signs at each register saying no refunds. I
didn't notice because the signs were placed off to the side, looking
like another warning about wearing masks and gloves. Also when I
wear a mask my eyeglasses fog up and when I take them off I still
can't see. I wonder how many visually impaired and blind people will
also get screwed. On my budget like many other people around here
$40 is a lot of money. This
is just another version of price gouging.

If this
store wants to play fair with customers the clerks should tell
customers verbally before a purchase of the no refund policy. If I
had know that I would have passed on buying the scale. I wanted a
basic scale but the store was out of the $20 unit. I need the scale
because I have to lose weight before hernia surgery.

I
thought the scale would work by itself without hooking up to the
internet with a special app. No go. It just sits there like a thick
square piece of hi-tech shit. If you go to Google Play for the A&D
Medical app you'll see complaints that it doesn't work. Don't buy
any products from this loser company.

So be on
the alert for this no refund ripoff at other stores. And don't
believe those bullshit TV ads with actor/good ol' guy Sam Elliot's
voice saying that Kinney Drugs is local, it cares about you.
Apparently to make up for lost sales during the crisis Kinney wants
to stick it to customers in the meantime.

Two
days ago a moose was wandering around the city. This incident
reminds me of the time a bear cub visited here. I was down at the
shit water treatment plant by the lake with my camera and spotted
him. I didn't approach him, just used the telephoto end of my zoom
lens to grab a couple of shots. The little guy took off into the
brush and I kept walking, not running, to get another image. A DEC
(Department of Environmental Conservation) officer ordered me and
another photographer who also happened to be there to leave the area
because we would scare the cub.

That
was funny because the police chief at that time was driving around in
his official vehicle. He pulled up near me and asked if I had seen
the cub. Then he took off with his young daughters standing in the
front seat, chasing the cub so that his kids could get a good look. I
think a guy walking with a camera is less scary than a speeding SUV.